Driving back from Aberdeen to Birmingham.. shatting it..

agrinnall

Unfortunately the airport is in a very bad place if you're heading south, while you don't have to drive through the city centre (which is even worse) there is usually very heavy traffic between the airport and Anderson Drive, and the Drive itself is the main north-south artery around the city. If you can get the seller to drive you down to past Bridge of Dee and let you take over there you'll find the driving much easier for the start of your journey.

torbrex

chicoe wrote: »

Ohhh don't say that!!

Chap is picking me up from the airport. Most likely going to sort everything out there and there at the airport and set off home from there.

What time do you land at Dyce?

The airport is about a half hour from the ring road and it takes at least half an hour to get round that to the open road on the other side and that does not take into account for rush hour which would add another half hour at least.

DUTR

chicoe wrote: »

Ohhh don't say that!!

Chap is picking me up from the airport. Most likely going to sort everything out there and there at the airport and set off home from there.

Have you already paid for the car? How are you going to pay (hopefully not cash) , if you are doing a bank transfer there is a limit on the amount, it could have changed but it used to be £6k, for larger amounts you may have to use CHAPS but some banks charge for that and it still takes a day.

notanewuser

This has disaster written all over it.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/66431598#Comment_66431598

redux

agrinnall wrote: »

My regular petrol stops are either at Tesco on the outskirts of Carlisle (M6 J43) or the Shell petrol station just off the motorway at Haydock Island (M6 J23).

you might add Sainsburys Bamber Bridge near Preston

includes good value restaurant (breakfast for under £5)

balletshoes

on a weekday you are also going to hit rush hour traffic long before you get back to Birmingham, somewhere on the M6, so expect delays (especially if you are not past junction 18 heading south by 4pm).

chicoe

agrinnall wrote: »

Unfortunately the airport is in a very bad place if you're heading south, while you don't have to drive through the city centre (which is even worse) there is usually very heavy traffic between the airport and Anderson Drive, and the Drive itself is the main north-south artery around the city. If you can get the seller to drive you down to past Bridge of Dee and let you take over there you'll find the driving much easier for the start of your journey.

Thanks will let the buyer know, I don't know if he's bringing someone with him in another car, will ask what exactly is the plan and see if he can drive me down to the place you've mentioned.

torbrex wrote: »

What time do you land at Dyce?

The airport is about a half hour from the ring road and it takes at least half an hour to get round that to the open road on the other side and that does not take into account for rush hour which would add another half hour at least.

If all goes well, after just after 8, planning to start the journey back home though around 10am though.

DUTR wrote: »

Have you already paid for the car? How are you going to pay (hopefully not cash) , if you are doing a bank transfer there is a limit on the amount, it could have changed but it used to be £6k, for larger amounts you may have to use CHAPS but some banks charge for that and it still takes a day.

I have not paid for it yet, just realised about the limits, what I will do is keep 10k in one account, and the rest in another bank account. Must remember to bring those banking devices otherwise I won't be able to login!!!

Herzlos

Don't try and rush, stop at whatever services you feel like. It's going to be a long trip whether you race down or not.

Drink water rather than caffiene - I at least found with water I felt better at the end and needed about half the toilet breaks.

DUTR

notanewuser wrote: »

This has disaster written all over it.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/66431598#Comment_66431598

It does to a point, hope the OP is being wary, I'm on another forum and a guy from Aberdeen had asked if soeone can look at a car locally to West Midlands, before he wastes his time travelling down, I offered, I looked and drove the car (scooby wrx) all looked good, too good ( as we are detailers) not even a stone chip on the front even though the guy drove to uni from Halesowen to Sheffield regularly, from the advert the registration was omitted, but after I furnished the guy with the reg, he later contacted me to say the car had been front ended.
It's a pity the OP doesn't know someone near Aberdeen to preview the car before making the comittment.

DalePie

You'll be fine plus with a nice new car the trip shouldn't have any hiccups.

Stick to the motorways and charge up your mobile phone, have you got breakdown cover?

Schedule a few breaks during the journey, maybe find a nice place to drop into for lunch - that's how I would do it, I hate driving with a passion!